Allsvenskan five-a-side: GW17

It was a strong start for both of us in the first round of five-a-side, Eytexi scraping the win 41-32 to put the score at 1-0. La bitácora del Fantasy picked the wrong week to punt on a Häcken differential in an otherwise strong showing. How are we lining up for Omgång 17? Let’s find out!

Play along in the comments below or over on Twitter (follow @Eytexi, @BitacoraFantasy and @CaribouKraftPOD for relevant posts) and be sure to read the rules by following the link below: https://t.co/2H28CYaCUv.

Eytexi – Pick One: Felix Beijmo (MFF; 6.0m)

Despite facing competition from Eric Larsson (6.2m), Beijmo has played 81.5% of available minutes so far this season, never fearing underlapping the likes of Jo Inge Berget (8.5m) and taking shots on goal throughout. Only three players have created more chances for Malmö in 2022, making it even more surprising that he’s yet to register an attacking return in the Allsvenskan despite scoring and assisting versus Vikingur Reykjavik in a Champions League qualifier on July 12th.  Having recorded eight key passes in the last three league games and coming off the back of six consecutive starts for Malmö, his form bodes well as his side travel to Sirius on Sunday, the reverse fixture seeing them take twenty-five shots worth 3.46xG in a dominant showing.

La bitácora del Fantasy – Pick One: Niklas Hult (IFE; 5.0m)

The Elfsborg defence is a mess at the moment, and they concede for fun, but their full-backs remain quite attacking-minded. Niklas Hult has returned to his old club after Zánden was snapped by French side Toulouse and he´s shown he’s still got it. Elfsborg were knocked out of Europe recently and only 6 points lie between them and sixth-place Göteborg. Hult has delivered one defensive bonus point in each of the two games hes played for the Boras side and an attacking return may be around the corner. Yes, he’s 32 and he’s getting used to the Elfsborg way, but he’s got the experience to become a regular and deliver from a Fantasy perspective. They face a Mjallby side that has scored in every single home game so far, but they are a defensive side nonetheless.

Eytexi – Pick Two: Axel Björnström (AIK; 6.3m)

Traditionally a left-back, injuries and a reshuffle following the exit of Jordan Larsson has seen Björnström play out-of-position on the left wing in three consecutive fixtures (albeit starting at left-back until the introduction of Erick Otieno (7.9m) versus Värnamo). The return of Nabil Bahoui (8.8m) to fitness may see Nicolás Stefanelli (8.5m) move into a wider role versus Kalmar, however, Björnström being benched is a risk I’m willing to take given the potential output. In the two fixtures in which he started out-of-position, he took 2/3SITB worth 0.27xG and played 4KP: if he’s given the opportunity to flex his form versus a Kalmar side who suffered a defeat to then bottom-of-the-league Degerfors last weekend, there’s a big haul awaiting his 1.1% ownership. A stellar differential.

La bitácora del Fantasy – Pick Two: Carl Johansson (GBG; 5.5m)

Alexander Jallow (5.6m) has been the main man fantasy-wise of Göteborg so far and he was close to getting another assist last time out, but Carl Johansson cannot be overlooked. The Blavit have been solid at the back of late and the former Falkenbergs centre-back possesses some aerial threat. He’s accumulated one defensive bonus point in each of the games he’s started.  Varberg has blanked in his last 2 games at home, and they have scored only 3 goals in their last 4 games. Johansson can deliver in both ends of the pitch. He’s scored one goal in every Allsvenskan season he’s played a goal may be on its way for the big man.

Eytexi – Pick Three: Jonathan Levi (NOR; 9.3m)

If I’ve learnt anything from twenty months following the Allsvenskan, it’s that this man enjoys a shot at goal. So far this season, Hammarby duo Nahir Besara (8.9m) (49) and Abdelrahman Saidi (5.9m) (44) are the only midfielders to take more shots than Levi (43) – no midfielder has put as many shots on target as Levi (20), nor has any player taken more shots from set-pieces (9) or hit the woodwork (3). It doesn’t end there either; he’s also an exceptional creator! Norrköping’s main man has created more big chances (14) than any other Allsvenskan player this season, only Besara (43) creating more chances than his 42. Levi also leads the league for xA (6.5), unfortunate to not have more than his 5 assists as Norrköping top the league for big chances missed (27). New additions Arnór Sigurdsson (8.0m) and Andri Gudjohnsen (7.0m) can only mean good things for their attack, as can a fixture versus a Degerfors side who are league leaders for xG conceded (33.1) after sixteen games.

La bitácora del Fantasy – Pick Three: Moustafa Zeidan (MFF; 6.8m)

Zeidan has been a steal so far in Allsvenskan Fantasy. He shined on his debut for Malmö against Norrköping and has 5 attacking returns in 2 games. He’s been the creative force in a Malmo team that was lacking in vision. He’s shared corners with Anders Christensen (11.8m) and has amassed 12 key passes in just 2 games. He faces a Sirius team that is exactly in the opposite situation. The Uppsala team has strength up front with the departure of both Laorent Shabani (5.3m) and Zeidan and they have simply been inconsistent this season. Zeidan will visit the Studenternas on Sunday having punished his former team already. I’m backing him to keep his hot streak.

Eytexi – Pick Four: Veton Berisha (HAM; 10.5m)

Priced at 12.0m in Eliteserien Fantasy, everyone with an ounce of fantasy experience owned Berisha for the first ten fixtures of the season, predominantly keeping the armband on the ex-Viking man throughout. During this time, Berisha scored eight goals and provided five assists for a total of eighty-six points. Among regular starters, only Pellegrino and Fofana have greater xG per ninety, only Fofana has more shots on target per ninety, and only Eikrem has more big chances created (despite most players having played 4-7 games more than Berisha).  In 2021, Berisha registered an attacking return every 77 minutes: this season was not simply form. Now at a Hammarby side with a better attacking set-up than his former club Viking, why only 2.0% of managers have acquired his services so far is a sight to behold for owners like myself. Next facing Sundsvall, who’ve conceded eight more goals than any other Allsvenskan side this season (including five versus Hammarby in Gameweek 2), there’s no doubt in my mind he sets the league on fire.

La bitácora del Fantasy – Pick Four: Nahir Besara (HAM; 8.9m)

Besara has been the perfect fantasy midfielder this season in Allsvenskan Fantasy. 14 attacking returns in 16 games says it all. The top-scoring midfielder in the game faces Sundsvall, the worst side in the league. They have conceded 40 goals already and their confidence is quite low at the moment. This has been probably the easiest captaincy choice in a while ever since I started playing the game. His biggest haul of the season was precisely against Sundsvall in GW2. I expect more of the same on Sunday.

Eytexi – Pick Five: Alexander Jeremejeff (BKH; 10.3m)

Another week, another inevitable selection, and another struggle for new superlatives to use when discussing the Allsvenskan top scorer. Jeremejeff now has eighteen goals and four assists in fifteen appearances this season, adding to both tallies in the goal-fest versus Elfsborg in Gameweek 16. Scoring from all of his 3SITB, he accumulated 2.51PsxG from 1.46xG. As if we needed any more evidence of his finishing expertise! Next up is the visit of Helsingborg, the newly promoted side currently looking up at the title race sat in the relegation zone despite some strong defensive showings over recent weeks where they racked up two consecutive clean sheets. When the two sides collided earlier in the season, Helsingborg held Häcken to a 1-1 draw, but it comes as no surprise that the lone BKH goal-scorer was Jeremejeff himself. This time playing at home, I can’t see the opposition defence causing him any problems given his exploits throughout the campaign so far.

La bitácora del Fantasy – Pick Five: Alexander Jeremejeff (BKH; 10.3m)

Jeremejeff has taken the league by storm and is the highest scoring in the game. He doesn’t really need an apology for his selection at this point. He scored a hat-trick last Gameweek and even though he’s pretty much secured being the top scorer he’s hungry for more week in, week out. He’s only blanked on 3 occasions and while it is true Helsinborgs have improved defensively they are still a promoted team that has room for improvement on all fronts. They have lost Tsouka and they have struggled to contain attacking sides. Häcken couldn’t win in the reverse fixtures, but they need the 3 points to keep the dream alive and Jeremejeff is instrumental, on pens and the focal point. Double digits incoming.

Summary

• Eytexi: Beijmo, Björnström (1.1%); Levi (K); Berisha (2.0%), Jeremejeff.
• La bitácora del Fantasy: Hult (0.6%), Johansson (2.4%); Zeidan, Besara (K); Jeremejeff.

Conclusion

Will Eytexi stretch his lead, or will ‘La bitácora del Fantasy’ return fire after going behind in the first round? We’ll be posting polls over on Twitter so you can have your say! Whether in the comments below, or on the associated Twitter posts, have a go yourself at crafting a five-a-side team; if you beat us, you’ll be able to enjoy a shout-out in next week’s article as well as entry to an incoming competition over at @CaribouKraftPOD: there will be prizes! See you there!